2025 SCECA Conference

Learn and put into practice some tried and true grace and courtesy lessons that are given in a Montessori environment. Play games that you can take to your classroom and walk away with tools on hand to help foster a more respectful, peaceful environment.

Take a deeper look into how we can help our children before expulsion occurs.  South Carolina has the highest preschool suspension and expulsion rate in the United States - we need to make a change.  I want to help educators think about what student behavior may be telling them instead of reacting to it. Gain an understanding of how trauma and stress can impact learning, behavior, and the development of the brain.  The capacity to love cannot be built in isolation.  The key characteristic in a relationship that buffers stress is that it is lasting - this cannot and should not be built in a day.  Learn how to give children the time and skills they need to keep them in a safe, structured, and loving environment before sending them off to the next place that may continue to break them or may even send them down the preschool to prison pipeline.

This session will focus on how the power of love and choosing to see the best in our students and co-workers can help us effectively move from problems to solutions.  Using the book, Shubert Sees the Best, we will work through understanding behavior through a perspective of positive intent, utilize A.C.T. process ( acknowledge desires, clarify skills to use, take time to practice) in problem-solving, look at structures such as Celebration Center and Wishing Well to support empathy.  Additionally, we will learn to make perspective changing "glasses" and have examples from the classroom of integrating positive intent with academic opportunities.

Participants will be able to:
1. Explain the difference between behavior expectations and rules.
2. Develop classroom rules and describe effective ways to teach rules to children.
3. List three ways to positively acknowledge children’s behavior.

This workshop will explore strategies for intentionally cultivating leadership skills in young children, starting as early as preschool. Participants will learn how to create environments that foster decision-making, problem-solving, and social responsibility among young learners. Using developmentally appropriate practices, we will discuss how to encourage autonomy, collaboration, and resilience in the classroom. The session will also address how to embed leadership opportunities into everyday learning activities, ensuring all children feel empowered. Attendees will leave with practical tools to nurture emerging leaders while respecting individual development and diversity.

Attendees will take away helpful strategies on how to decrease challenging behaviors in the classroom and the key to getting to the root of the behavior.

What are the realities of delivering effective consequences and changing behaviors?  Mistakes are opportunities to learn skills and every conflict is an opportunity to teach. Participants will learn the difference in the types of consequences along with the language to effectively deliver each type of consequences. The importance of the adult’s intention when delivering effective consequences will be discussed and practiced

FLIP IT® training offers a simple four-step approach to managing children's challenging behaviors: Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, and Prompts. Attendees will learn to help children identify emotions, set clear expectations, and build problem-solving skills. This research-backed method fosters emotional resilience and better behavior outcomes. It’s perfect for educators, parents, and professionals looking to create supportive environments.

This workshop will focus on holistic child guidance techniques that help teachers guide children's behavior in a supportive and nurturing way. Participants will explore strategies that address the emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of child development to promote positive behavior. The session will cover proactive approaches to creating an inclusive classroom environment, using relationship-building and emotional regulation tools. Attendees will also learn how to foster self-discipline and problem-solving skills in young children, while respecting their individual needs. Practical techniques for promoting a sense of community and cooperation will be shared to support teachers in nurturing well-rounded, confident learners.

In this session, educators will gain insights and practical techniques to guide young learners from a focus on blame and tattling toward fostering a culture of helpfulness and positive problem-solving. Participants will explore how to support students in developing skills that promote constructive behavior and empathy.

This session will cover the process of getting a dog certified as a therapy animal, the logistical and legal considerations in a school or agency setting and the benefits of therapy dogs in working with children.  I will give examples of specific ways that my therapy dog and I have worked with individual students, small groups and in classroom settings.  Resources for training and connecting with therapy animal organizations will be shared with participants.